Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poses for a photograph with the awardees of Begum Rokeya Padak 2018 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre
yesterday marking birth and death anniversary of the feminist thinker, educationist and women's rights advocate of the then Indian subcontinent. Focus Bangla Photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the country's women not to create problems in their families while trying to realise their rights as everyone has the responsibility to the family.

"Your [women] rights have to be realised but be careful that there shouldn't be any unrest in the family in the name of realising rights,"

she said.

The Prime Minister said this was addressing a programme marking the Begum Rokeya Day and distribution of Begum Rokeya Padak 2018 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Five people received the award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society and women empowerment.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over medals weighing 25 grams of 18-karat gold, cheques of Tk 2 lakh and certificates among the winners and their family members at the programme organised by the Ministry of Children and Women Affairs. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki chair the programme.

Addressing the programme, Hasina said everyone has the responsibility to the family and society, and everybody should understand their respective responsibilities. "There should be a sense of proportion... this is the most important virtue."

Sheikh Hasina asked the women of the country to maintain their families while attaining their respective positions at the workplace.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of ensuring the scope for women to flourish their merits and talents. "Women should get their place and scope, and they also should properly utilise their chances as no one gives a space to others."

Referring to well-educated women, the Prime Minister asked them to give proper education to their children so that they could be worthy citizens of the country.

"Stay alert so that your children don't involve in militancy, terrorism and drugs...you'll have to build friendly relations with your children so that they share everything comfortably with you," she said.

Recalling the great role played by women during the Liberation War, Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken various steps for women's emancipation and their development alongside rehabilitating the mothers and sisters who suffered brutalities in the hands of Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators.

Following in the footsteps of Bangabandhu, she said, her government paid special attention to the development of poor, marginalised and underprivileged women of society to expedite their empowerment.

The Prime Minister recalled the contributions of her mother to the country at various turning points of the nation’s history as she always supported Bangabandhu from behind the scene.

Hasina said her government first appointed woman secretary, superintendent of police, officer-in-charge of police and justice, and they all were doing excellent job.

“Now the country’s prime minister, deputy leader of the house, opposition leader, Speaker and some ministers are women, a rare example in the world,” she mentioned.

To build leadership from the grassroots level, Hasina said her government has kept seats reserved for women at union parishads.

Hasina also mentioned the increase of maternity leave to six months, setting up of daycare centres to help working mothers, made the mentioning of mother’s name mandatory in any document, enactment of Family Violence (prevention and protection) Act, Child Marriage (Prevention) Act, construction of hostels for working women, VGD programme in 4547 unions and community clinic for rural women.

The Ministry of Children and Women Affairs organised the programme with State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki in the chair.

Zinnatun Nesa Talukder, a recipient of the Rokeya Padak 2018, also spoke on the occasion.

Four other winners of the prestigious award are eminent Professor Zohra Anis, Shila Roy, Rauma Chowdhury (posthumous), Rokeya Begum (posthumous). The Prime Minister handed over the medals, cheques of Tk 2 lakh and certificates among the winners and their family members.

The government introduced the award in 1995 after the name of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a pioneer of women’s rights movement in the undivided Bengal.

A leading feminist writer and social worker during the early 20th century, Begum Rokeya was famous for her struggle to establish gender equality and ensure education for women.